Identification of
Textile Fibers
Identification of Textile Fiber
1. Microscopic Examination
2. Burning Test
3. Solubility Test in Chemicals
In addition to these three test the following four tests also provide
useful information :
• Element identification
• Density measurement
• Determination of melting point
• Feeling test
Burning Test:
The fibers being chemically different they show different burning test.
The burning test is a relatively simple test .
Observation made on
When approaching the flame
• On the burning behavior inside the flame
• During removal from the flame
• Relating to the smell emitted
• The residual left behind after the fiber has burnt
Fiber Approaching In flame Behavior Smell Residue
flame outside the
flame
Cellulose fiber Do not shrink Burn readily Continue to Burning hair Small amount of
(cotton viscose) without melting burn after glow light gray ash
Wool, silk Curl away Burn slowly Self Burning hair Easily crushable
sputter extinguishing black bead
Asbestos Does not shrink Does not burn, Retains shape None Same as original
glows
Polyester Shrinks away Melts, burn Burns, drips, Sweet smell of Hard, tough,
from flame slowly, drips may extinguish ester gray bead
because of
dripping
Nylon -do- -do- -do- Pungent, Hard, tough,
burning beans light color
Polypropylene -do- -do- Continues to Burning plastic Hard, tough, tan
burn bead
Acrylic -do- Burns readily, -do- Acrid Irregular, hard,
sputters black bead
Video
Cotton
Is a cellulose fiber. It burns and may flare up when lit. No melted bead
is left by it. After burning, it continues to glow. It gives out smell like
that of a burning paper. The smoke is gray or white. The ash is fine, soft
that can be easily crumbled.
Hemp
• A cellulose fiber, burns quickly with bright flame. It leaves no melted
bead and after burning no sign of flame is seen but it does not melts.
It smells like burning leaves or wood. The ash is gray and smoke has
no fume hazard.
Jute
• Also a cellulose fiber, does not shrink from flame. Other
characteristics are similar to those of hemp fabric.
Linen (Flax)
• A cellulose fiber, it takes longer to ignite. It is easily extinguished by
blowing on it. Other properties are similar to hemp and jute.
Rayon
• Is a manufactured cellulose fiber. It burns without flame or melting
and may flare up. Unless there is a fabric finish, it doesn't leave any
bead. After the flame is removed, it may glow a bit longer than
cotton. It smells like burning paper and leaves soft, gray ash. It's
smoke is a little hazardous.
Silk
• Is a protein fiber which burns slowly and curls away from the flame. It
leaves dark bead which can be easily crushed. It is self-extinguishing
and leaves ash that is dark, gritty, fine powder. It smells like burned
hair or charred meat. It gives out a little or no smoke and the fume
has no hazard.
Wool
• Is a protein fiber which burns slowly. It sizzles and curls away from
flame and may curl back onto fingernail. It leaves beads that are
brittle, dark, and easily crushed. It is self-extinguishing and leaves
harsh ash from crushed bead. It gives out a strong odor of burning
hair or feathers. It gives out dark smoke and moderate fume.
Nylon, Polymide
• Are made from petroleum. Due to their fabric finish, they quickly burn
and shrink to flame. The beads are hard, grayish and uncrushable.
After flame, they burn slowly and melt. They are self-extinguishing
but drip dangerously. Their odor is like celery and they leave no ash
but the fume is very hazardous.
Polyester
• Is a polymer produced from coal, air, water, and petroleum products.
It burns quickly and shrinks away from flame, may also flare up. It
leaves hard, dark, and round beads. After the flame, it burns slowly
and is not always self-extinguishing. It has a slightly sweet chemical
odor. It leaves no ash but its black smoke and fume are hazardous.
Microscopic Tests
• It reveals the microscopic features of fibers. When we cut a fiber in a
perpendicular direction and a thin cross section examined on a the
microscope, the shape of cross section and microscopic examination
can help us to identify fibers.
• An optical microscope with at least 100 magnification is used. The
fiber examined in a longitudinal direction.
Longitudinal Examination of fibers
• To examine in a fiber in a longitudinal direction a few fibers are
straightened and parallelized and placed on a glass slide. And
fiber fixed with the help of binding tape. To reduce the scattering
of light the fibers immersed in a inert liquid having a refractive
index close to the refractive index of fiber and than covered with
a glass.
• The sample is then mounted on the microscope stage and its
focused image observed on the screen. And this longitudinal
image may then be traced on tracing paper.
Cotton Microscopic view
Kidney like
Ribbon like shape
shape
Cross section Examination
• A bundle of straight and parallel fibers is embedded in a cork with the
help of needle in which the yarn and filaments are threaded. A thin
section of cork carefully cut and then placed on a glass slide and
secured edges with cello tape. And then place inside microscope.
Fiber Longitudinal Section: Appearance Cross section: Appearance
Cotton Flat, irregular convoluted ribbons Peanut or bean shaped with lumen
which change direction with the running through the length.
twist.
Wool Rough surface with scale Nearly round, medulla present in
protruding out coarse fibers is concentric and
irregular in size.
Silk Smooth with distinct lengthwise Mostly triangular, irregular
patterns
Viscose Rayon Striated, smooth Irregular, saw-toothed
Nylon, polyester, polypropylene Smooth rod like Regular, round
Acrylic Flat, irregular striations Irregular, dog bone shape
Lumen: Lumen is a irregular hole running through the middle.
Medulla: The inner region of an organ or tissue
Nylon
Cotton
Solubility Test
• The solubility of fiber in the some specific chemical reagents (acid,
alkali, bleaching agent, solvent) provides a definite means of
identification, if not for a specific fiber, then for a generic group.
• Treat the fiber sample with 0.25-0.50% sodium hypochlorite solution.
If soluble they may be wool or silk. To distinguish between the two,
treat the fiber in cold 70% sulphuric acid, if soluble it is silk, otherwise
wool.
• Treat the fiber with sulphuric acid. If soluble it could be cotton or
viscose rayon. To distinguish between the two, treat them with
sodium zincate. If soluble, it is viscose.
Solubility Test
• Nylon 6 and Nylon 6,6 soluble in formic acid (85%) and m-cresol
• Wool soluble in 5% NaoH at room temperature
• Silk soluble in 5% NaoH (hot)
• Viscose rayon dissolve in sodium zincate solution
• PET (polyethylene terephthalate) dissolve in orthochloro-phenol at
room temperature.
• Polypropylene or polyethylene floats on water.
